Ad Campaign Calls On Redskins To Change Name

An ad campaign will appeal to D.C. residents to support a change to the Redskins name.

The Oneida Indian Nation in upstate New York is launching a radio ad campaign pressing for the Washington Redskins to shed a name often criticized as offensive.

The tribe will begin running radio ads here in D.C. in the lead-up to Monday night's game against the Philadelphia.

In the ad, Oneida Nation Representative Ray Halbritter calls on NFL commissioner to "stand up" to bigotry by denouncing the racial slur in the team's name.

"We do not deserve to be called Redskins," Halbritter says. "We deserve to be treated as what we are: Americans."

The ad campaign comes as more and more press outlets, pundits and lawmakers have called for the team to change its name. In an email to the Associated Press, a league spokesperson says the NFL respects that "reasonable people may have differing views."

When you give to WAMU, your tax-deductible membership gift helps make possible award-winning programs such as Morning Edition, All Things Considered, The Diane Rehm Show, The Kojo Nnamdi Show, and other favorites.